Gilberto A Martinez

Gilberto A. Martinez, 82, was called home by his Lord and Creator on March 5, 2020 at home with his family tending to him. Gilbert was born Gilberto Abedon Martinez to Leonardo Abedon Martinez and Adela Lopez Martinez on June 1, 1937 in Los Pachecos, New Mexico. He went to Alcalde Mission School and excelled in sports. For high school he went to McCurdy Mission School which at that time was a boarding school. After high school he went to California to live with two of his sisters. He married Olimpia Martinez in Santa Fe on January 26, 1960 (her 21st birthday). They lived on the Martinez Family property next to his parents' for 8 years and eventually moved to Albuquerque where they raised their 3 children. Gilbert was a truck driver who has driven over a million miles during his career. He had great skill in handling different kinds of trucks. He won several awards in the annual Truck Rodeos. Even though he drove trucks for a living, he still took his family on lots of road trips on weekends and vacations during the summer. He made sure his family had quality time together. He loved hunting, fishing and camping in northern New Mexico. He was the #1 grampo to his 2 grandchildren. They loved his big trucks and his RV. He was preceded in death by his first-born son Gilbert Keith Martinez, his parents Leonardo Abedon Martinez and Adela (Lopez) Martinez, brothers Pedro, Bill and Jerry, sisters Edna and Irene. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Olimpia Martinez, son Chase, daughters Glenna and Angela, grandchildren Gianni and Angela, sister Bertha Valencia, and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Services will be March 9, 2020 at 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1100 Montaño NW, Abq. Burial will be March 10, 2020 at 12:00 pm in Loma Vista Cemetery in Alcalde, NM.